12 years later, still remembering 9/11

It’s been more than a decade since Sept. 11, 2001, but the importance of recognizing the anniversary of that day’s terrorist attacks hasn’t faded for Bill Kershaw, a battalion chief with the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

“It’s really a seminal moment in our country’s history, and it’s a good time to stop and reflect and think about all of the losses (of lives) in maintaining our freedom,” Kershaw said. “It’s always good to remember those who have lost their lives protecting our freedom and our liberty.”

That’s why the Costa Mesa Fire Department will participate in a county-wide event to recognize the moment when the first plane struck the towers of the World Trade Center 12 years ago. At 8:46 a.m., the time on the East Coast when the first plane hit the North Tower, firefighters in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach will observe a moment of silence. The flag will fly at half-staff.

“The lesson we learned from 9/11 was unity and to unite to show our patriotism and gratitude for first responders,” said Drea Whitaker. Whitaker is the admissions leader at Paul Mitchell The School Costa Mesa, which is offering free haircuts to public safety workers all week to thank them for their service.

Those workers appreciate the recognition, she said.

“They’re grateful that we remember them,” she said. “(Their service) is not something you want to forget, and it’s just recognizing them for their heroic acts every day.”

Though no formal events are planned for schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School Districts, many schools say they will be observing a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m..

A few are planning their own observances, such as Andersen Elementary School in Costa Mesa, which will listen to the song, "Proud to be an American" together. The district office also will observe a moment of silence by the flagpole.

In addition, Estancia High School's choir will be singing “My Country Tis of Thee” in class and the library will have a display of books related to the terrorist attacks. At Corona del Mar High School, students will briefly recall the events of the day followed by a moment of silence.

Outside of schoool, some local parents say they may talk to their children at home about the attack. Others believe their children shouldn't have to hear about the loss of lives. Parent Diedre Stary has two children in second and third grade at Adams Elementary School. She said her children are too young to discuss what happened.

“We don’t have talks about it,” Stary said. “We just don’t get them involved in it at all. I just don’t think they need that on their heads right now while they’re trying to learn.”

Other parents said if they talk to their children at all about the attacks, they try not to go into details of why, which is often unavoidable with curious 7-year-olds like parent Cari Christie’s.

“We tell him that people were hurt and buildings were destroyed, and basically that our world changed in a lot of ways,” Christie said.

The Costa Mesa resident and mother of a first grader at California Elementary School said she keeps discussions of the events at a surface level, but when her son asks why someone would do such a horrible thing, she tries to explain it in terms he would understand.

“Without talking about my own political or religious beliefs, I try to tell him that people with different views fight about things, and sometimes that’s how they solve problems,” she said. “It’s like when you’re playing handball with a friend, sometimes you might push him and sometimes he pushes back harder.”

Many parents of older children who were alive when the attacks occurred said they do talk about the causes and consequences of the attack. Christy Chapel’s 17-year-old daughter and Costa Mesa High School senior was just five when the 2001 crashes occurred. They didn’t talk about it at the time, but they do now.

“It was a sad, tragic day and I didn’t feel it was appropriate to talk about it with her,” Christy said. “She eventually heard about it from other kids at school and then I just told her the basics of what happened.”

Katie now says she wishes it was more talked about at school and at home, though she understands why parents wouldn’t want to discuss it with young children.

“It’s a part of our history.” she said. “We shouldn’t pretend it didn’t happen.”

9/11 commemorative events in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa

9/11 commemorative events in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa

Looking for a way to commemorate Sept. 11? Here are some of the events happening in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. And for those who work in public safety, several groups are organizing ways to say thank you.

Remember 9/11 The Ride

Hundreds of motorcyclists are gathering to commemorate the victims and fallen heroes of Sept. 11 at the annual Remember 9/11 The Ride event. Coordinated by Long Beach City engineer Gary Biggerstaff, the motorcyclists will ride out from Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon at 2:15 p.m. to Pacific Coast Highway, crossing Newport Beach and ending at Joe’s Crab Shack in Long Beach.

Time: The event starts at 2:15 p.m.

Location: 19152 E. Santiago Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon

Cost: $2.75 to use for the 241 toll roads

Fire Stations

Several Costa Mesa and Newport Beach fire stations will participate in a county-wide remembrance event. At 8:46 a.m., the East Coast time of the first plane striking the World Trade Center’s North Tower, they’ll have their radios on to receive a county-wide announcement and moment of silence to memorialize the lives lost on Sept. 11.

Local residents and groups have organized an event at the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach to remember both the victims of Sept. 11 and the foreign service workers killed in Benghazi last year. Military veterans will be special guest speakers at the event, and participants are asked to wear red, white or blue to make a human 9-11 formation.

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location: Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, near East Balboa Boulevard

Cost: Free. Parking is available for $1.50 an hour in the large lot next to the pier.

American Legion

American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 will have a special 9/11 ceremony, followed by a buffet dinner, for members only. The event isn’t open to the public.

Time: 5 p.m. for the ceremony, 6 p.m. for the buffet dinner and 7 p.m. for the post’s general meeting

Paul Mitchell The School Costa Mesa will offer free haircuts to firefighters, police officers, military veterans and military personnel on Sept. 11 and all week long to thank public safety workers and members of the military. Also, the school will have a barbecue with proceeds going to families of fallen firefighters.

Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: 3309 Hyland Ave., Suite J in Costa Mesa

Cost: Free for public safety workers. Call 714-546-8786 for an appointment. The barbecue is $5 a plate.

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